Feed mechanism for sewing-machines.



v; J. VAN HORN.

FEED MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 7 1911. Patented May 6, 1913.

4 SHEETSSHEET l.

( /6/0611 far.-

V. J. VAN HORN.

FEED MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.

11211110111011 FILED AUG. 7, 1911. 1,060,799. Patented May 6, 1913.

4E11EETssHEET 2.

V. J. VAN HORN.

FEED MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 7, 1911.

Patented May 6, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

V. J. VAN HORN.

FEED MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 7, 1911.

Patented May 6, 1913.

4 SEEETB-SHEET 4 nite lengths,

VANDIVER J. VAN HORN,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO JOHN W.

ONEILL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FEED MECHANISM FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 6, 1913.

Application filed August 7, 1911. Serial No. 642,762. 7

mechanism which is adapted for use in sewing machines generally, but which is par ticularly adapted for use in machines used for sewing heavy goods or a number of superposed sheets or plies. It is also adapted for use in machines having only a single needle, but is particularly adapted for use in machines having a plurality of needles for simultaneously making a plurality of parallel seams. v

A large number of needles are used in machines for quilting purposes,'but since the use of any number of needles more than one involves largely the mere duplication of parts, for the sake of brevity the following description will be confined to a machine having only a single needle, excepting when it becomes necessary to refer to accessory parts that are peculiar to machines having a plurality of needles.

The improved feed mechanism is also particularly adapted for use in machines to which the goods to be worked up are fed continuously as, for example, by being unwound from bolts or rolls, or otherwise, and which -turn out the finished work in indefi of uniform character, which, in turn, is used as stock and cut up as desired for making various articles. For example, that class ofquilting used in garments for padding and other purposes usually consists of inner and outer sheets or plies of fabric and an inner sheet or ply (or plies) of batting or other padding material. The outer plies are continuous and are usually fed to the quilting machine as they are unwound from bolts or rolls, while the padding is usually laid on the lower outer ply as it traverses a table before reaching the needles, but it is manifest that if desired, the adding also may be unwound from the ho tor roll, if its character will permit. -At any rate, the quilting has a plurality of plies and, stated in general terms, the principal objects of the present invention are to provide, for use in sewing machines of any of the characters above mentioned, a feed mechanism which will insure the absolutely uniform andequal feeding of all of the several plies of goods to the machine and a similar delivery of the completed work by themachine, at the same time avoiding all lateral strains upon the needle and all undue or. objectionable stretching of the goods or the completed work, to the end that its normal condition is flat and without puckers or the like. In order to accomplish these objects, the feed mechanism of the present invention is so constructed that while the needle is above or out of the work, a sufficient length of the work for, at least one stitch (preferably the exact length that is necessary-no more and no less) is fed or drawn forward past the path of the needle. This feeding takes place while the needle is making the last half (or other proportional part) of its up-stroke and the firsthalf (or other proportional part) of its down-stroke and is out of the work, while that portion of the work which lies in the path of the needle remains at rest while the needle is completing its strokes. This feeding (by which is meant the forward movement) of the work is produced in part by a device herein called a deflector which engages the work in rear of the needle while the needle is up-.-out of the work,and completes its part of the feeding operation before the needle again enters the work said deflector being capable of reciprocating movements across the general plane of the work as it passes through the machine and v in directions transverse to said plane. The

entire feeding operation mu t be completed while the needle is out of the work in order that lateral strains upon the needle or the stretching of the work in rear of the needle is immaterial, so far taken up by a pair of rolls which are, in fact, a part of the feeding mechanism and perform. the double function of a slack takeup by reason of their rotationjand a clamp by reason of their being forced towai'd each other, both of which are necessary inthe carrying out of the invention. The expression not underjany considerable tension is intended to mean that the work is not under suflicient tension to draw it past the needle. It is, of course, a physical impossibility with the parts so arranged that the work normally occupies a substantially horizontal position to absolutely eliminate tension, because the weight of the work itself will of necessity produce a very slight tension.

In those forms of the invention which have been selected for the purpose of this application, the feed mechanism considered as a whole, includes the aforesaid rolls and the aforesaid deflector which is adapted to engage the work and cross it transversely, from side to side, at a point between the needle ,and the rolls, said deflector being movable in a direction which is transverse to the normal plane of the work. The work being constantly andfirmly clamped by the rolls so as to hold it at all times a ainst retrograde movement, a-fter the de ector, while moving downward, comes in contact with the work, its continued downward movement will draw forward a length of the work sufficient for the next stitch and when the needle, moving downward reaches the work the defiector will imme iately commence, or will have commenced and partially completed its up-stroke, so that the length of the work t us actually drawn forward by the deflector will be taken up by the rolls,- which are constantly driven at such surface speed thatthey will take up the work only as fast as it is actually fed forward by the deflector. If the deflector at any time moves away'from and entirely out of contact with the work, there will be an unrestrained slack between the needle and the rolls, but. by so relating the needle-barand deflector that the point of the needle moves both above and below the tension, between the needle and the rolls.

The object of the invention is to provide a feed mechanism having the above described mode of operation and to this end the invention consists in the features of novelty that are hereinafter described withrefare made a erence to the accompanying drawings, which part of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is an scale, of a feed .inchanism for sewing machines embodying the invention and so many of the parts of the machine as are necessary elevation, on an enlarged in order to fullvunderstand the same, the

parts being viewed in the direction of the arrow, 1, Fig. 2, 2'. e., looking toward. the face-plate end out of the machine head, but with the face-plate omitted. Fig. 2 is an elevation thereo viewed in the direction of the arrow 2, Fig. 1, z'. e., looking forward from the rear. side of the machine head.

Figs. 3, 4, 5, and flare diagrammatic views of the principal parts of the feed mechanism, showing the parts in the positions which theybc'cupy at four successive equidistant stages in the complete cycle of movement involved in making. the two complete upward and downward strokes of the needle-bar, necessary in the making of a single stitch. 'Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 are diagrammatic views similar to Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 involving the principle or the fundamental idea of theinvention as carried out by a modification in the construction and arrangement of the parts. Fig. 11 is .a plan view of the machine head, all parts below the top of the head being omitted, for the sake of clearness. Fig. 12 is a horizontal section on the line 12 12,'Fig. 1,1ooking downward. Fig. 13 is a horizontal section on the line 1313, Fig. 1', looking downward. Figs. 14 and 15 aredetailed views of a modification.

The preferred form of the invention will I or pitman,4, the other end of which is occupied by a (pin, 5, projecting from a collar, 7

6, adjustably secured tothe needle-bar, 7, to the lower end of which the needle, 8, is secured by a clamp 8" of any known or desired construction.

The thread take-up and tension devices form no part of the present invention and need not be described.

The presser-foot, 10, is carried by a p resser-bar, 11, which is impelled downward by a spring, 12, the tension of which may be regulated by a screw, 13, but the details in the construction of this presser-foot mechanism form no part of, the present invention and need no further description. The. presser-foot operates in conjunction with a portion of the base-plate of the head, op a slide secured thereto, either of which may be considered as represented by the part numbered 14 on the drawings, but unlike the presser-foot of an ordinary sewing machine it does not cooperate with a toothed or serrated reciprocating feed device.

In rear of the presser-foot bar is located a bar, 15, hereinafter called the feed-bar, having or carrying at its lower end a part hereinafter called the deflector, the working, or extreme lower, surface of which is rounded off so as to present a smooth surface for contact with the work. The needle-bar, the presser-foot bar, and the feedbar are all parallel with each other and lie in the same vertical plane, and each is capable of vertical reciprocation transversely to the general plane of the work asit passes through the mach-inc, each being guided by suitable bearings which are attached to or formed with the machine head, the bearings for the feed-bar being shown at 17 and 18.

The feed-bar is carried by a collar, 19, which is adjustable thereon for the purpose of enabling the adjustment of the deflector to any elevation relative to the other parts of the feed mechanism whereby the deflector maybe made to accommodate goods of different thickness and whereby the range of its movement may be set at any elevation relative to the other parts. The collar is jointed to the lower one of two similar parts, 20 and 21, which are adjustably connected by means of a rod, 22, the ends of which have engagement with the parts, 20 and 21, respectively, by means of right and left screw-threads. The upper part, 21, is jointed to the outer end of one arm of a lever, 23, which is fulcrumed .at 24 to a bracket, 25, projecting from the machine head, the outer end of the other arm of the lever being jointed to the upper end of a link, 26, the lower end of which is jointed to the crank-pin, 3. It is manifest that these details in construction are immaterial to the proper operation of the invention and that the result would be the same if the upper end of the feed-bar, 15, and link, 26, were ointed directly to the lever, 23.

The invention has nothing to do with the .looper or shuttle mechanism and hence this mechanism is not fully shown in detailin the drawings but is simply indicated at 27, it being understood that a looper of any suitable form may be used.

Ahead 6f the needle, 8, is a pair of idle rolls, 28 and 29, between which the work,

shown at 30, passes. The facesof the rolls are fluted or corrugatedso as to yieldingly but firmly clamp-0r grip the work and prevent sli pping. The upper roll, 28, is carried by a shaft, 31, which is journaled in bearings, 32, rising from the base-plate, 33, of the machine head while the lower roll, 29, is secured to a shaft, 34, 'journaled at the free ends of swinging links, 35, the other ends of which are pivotally supported by bearings of any suitable construction carried by brackets, 36, which are, in turn, carried by the base-plate. The rolls derive their movement solely from frictional contact with the work, 30, and in order to insure their rotating in unison, their respectiveshafts are provided with intermeshing gear wheels, 37 and 38. They are held in contact with the wor with the friction necessary to prevent slipping, by coiled springs,

39, which surround the stems of ad'ustin screws, 400, which pass 'loosel t roug openings formed through the lin s, 35, and project intothreaded sockets in the baseplate, '33. i The springs re-act downward upon the heads of the screws and upward against the links, and their tension may be adjusted by turning the screws in one direction or the other, as may be necessary.

Behind the feed-tappet is a second pair of rolls, 40 and 41, between which the work passes, said rolls having their peripheries fluted or corrugated to prevent slipping. These rolls are positively driven continuously and form a part of the feed mechanism, but the feeding of the work to the needle is not accomplished, either in wholeior in part, by their rotation. They are instrumental in feeding the work forward only in that they constitute a clamp which at all times clamps the work and prevents its retrograde movement while the feed-tappet, during its downward movement, is pressing transversely upon the work and thereby deflecting it.

'next stitch. During the downward movement of the deflector, and the consequent drawing forward of the work, the rolls, 28 and 29, will make a partial turn and stop when the deflector completes its downward movement, so that their, rotation will be intermittent, or step by step. But the rotation of the rolls, 40 and 41, is positive and continuous and is produced by power transmitted from the main shaft, 1, through the medium of suitable gearing. As shown in the drawings this gearing may consist of a gear-wheel, 42, carried by the shaft, 1, and meshing with a corresponding gear wheel, 43, carried by the upper end of a shaft, 44, the lower end of which carries a worm, '45, which meshes with a worm-wheel, 46, secured to the shaft, 47, of'the upper roll, 40, the pitch of the gearing being such that the roll, 40, will turn clock-wise. The lower roll is positively driven counter clock-wise by intermeshing gear wheels, 48 and 49, se-

ponent to the parts accessory to the shafts, 47 and 50, for the sake of distinction. The

axis of the shaft, 44, forms angles of 90 dethe length of the work fed forward by each operation of the feed mechanism, which, as before stated, is the exact length required for a single stitch.

Referring to the diagrammatic views, Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6, Fig.3 represents the positions of the parts as they are shown in Fig. 1. The needle-bar is at the middle of its up-stroke and the point of the needle is just about to'leave the work, 80, wh ch in all of the diagrammatical figures is represented by a single line, and its theoretical normal plane would-be represented by a straight line drawn from the bite of the rolls, 28 and 29, to the bite of the rolls, 40 and 41. The feed-bar'is at the middle of its downstroke but the deflector has not reached the normal plane of the work. As the needle-bar completes the last half of its up-stroke, and until it arrives at its upper limit ofmovement, as shown in Fig. 4, the feed-bar will continue to move downward, the deflector the rolls, 28 and 29. As soon as the deflector comes in contact with the work, which is clamped by the rolls, '40 and 41, so as to prevent retrograde movement, the continued downward movement of thedeflector. will draw the proper length of the work forward,fibetween the rolls, 28 and 29, leaving the work in position for the next stitch. The needle-bar will then commence its downstroke, the first half 'of which is completed as the shaft, 1, makes a quarter turn, bringing the point of the needle into contact with the work, and simultaneously with this half down-stroke ofthe needle-bar, the feed-bar will make the first half of its upstroke,'

leaving the parts in the positions shown in Fig. 5. As the'needle-bar makes the last half of its down-stroke, the needle is thrust through the work into position for the forming of the loop and while this is taking half of its up-stroke, leaving the parts in the positions shown in Fig. 6. During the next quarter turn of the shaft, 1, the needlebar will make the first half of its up-stroke,

will make the first half ofits down-stroke, returning all of the parts to the positions shown in Fig. 3. It will be observed that during all these operations there will be 41, so that there is no feeding forward of the work to the needle. It will also be observed that duringthe entire period when the needle is in the work the foot of the deflector is out of contact with the work, and that after thepoint of the needle passes above the work and again descends to it, the entire feeding operation is commenced and completed.

In Figs. 3 to 6, and also in Figs. 7 to 10, the upper and lower limits of the'travel of the deflector are shown by the dotted lines, 52 and 53, respectively, while the upper and lower limits of the travel of the point of the needle are represented by the dotted lines, 54 and '55, respectively. It will be observed that the amplitude of movement of the needle-bar and feed-bar as shown in they always move in the opposite directions due to the fact that their movements are taken from opposite sides of one and the same crank-pin, 3. Since these movements are greater than the length of a single stitch, it follows that at all times, exc'e tlng when the feed-tappet is acting upon t e work to feed the work-forward there will be an unrestrained slack between the. presser-foot and the take-up rolls. This slack may, however, be avoided by limiting the amplitude of movement of the feed-bar to exactly what ,is necessary to feed forward exactly the length of the work necessary for a single stitch, and this may be done by using differential mechanism for transmittin movement from one and the samesha t to the needle-bar and feed-bar, respectively. As shown in Figs. 7 'to 10, inclusive, this is doneby making the arms of the lever, 23, of different lengths. In this event, the lever and needle-bar may be operated by the one and the same crank-pin; as shown in Figs.

separate crank-pins, 3 and '3, respectively, having the same throw or degree of eccen tricity, as shown in Figs. 7 to 10, inclusive.

As shown in Figs. 7 to 10, inclusive, and in Figs. 14 and 15,-one of the crank-pins is set -9O degrees in advance of the other and in order that the links, 4 and '26, may pass each other the two. pins are in different bringing the point of the needle to thenor-. mal plane of the work and the feed-ban more or less slack in the work between the presser-foot and the take-up rolls, 40 and Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive are equal and that- 1 to 6, inclusive, or by operating them from place the feed-bar will complete the last planes which are perpendicular to the axis 130 :of' the shaft, 1, and the pins are connected by an ofl'set part, 56, or, in other words, they are formed of a single crank-shaped piece. With the crank-pins thus arranged, the needle-bar and feed-bar do not always move in opposite directions, but they will nevertheless move in such manner that the general results above described are obtained. Furthermore, by the use of separate pins for actuating the needle-bar and feed-bar, thedesired differential movement. or difference in the amplitude of the movement of the needle-bar and feed-bar may be produced by giving one pin a greater throw or degree off-eccentricity than the other, regardless of the relative lengths of the arms of the lever, 23.

It will be noted that in Figs. 3 to 6, inclusive, the deflector is made adjustable by providing it with a stem which occupies a socket in the lower end of the feed-bar and providing a set screw, 57, by which it may be held in any position to which it is adjusted'. This will accomplish the same result as the'adjustable collar, 19, described, accomplishes, that is to say, without changing the amplitude of the movement of the deflector it changes the levels of its upper and lower limits of travel so that it contacts with and leaves the work at any desired levels, thus providing for work of different thicknesses as well as for feeding different lengths of the work for.- ward when diflerently adjusted.

The foregoing description has been con fined to a sewing machine having but a single needle, but all of what has been said is applicable to a machine having a plurality of needles. In Figs. 2 and 11, three needles are shown, arranged side by side, or in a gang and the number'may be increased indefinitely. In order to increase the number from one up, it is simply necessary to increase the lateral extent of the deflector and the presser-foot and correspondingly increase the lateral extent of the needle-clamp 8", all of which is shown in Fig. 2 sufiiciently for the purposes of this application. 4

What I claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A sewing machine having, in combination, a needle, means for operating it, and feed mechanism, said feed mechanism having a clamp for constantly engaging the work and at all times positively holding it and preventing its retrograde movement, a deflector engaging the work between the needle and clamp, and meansfor reciprocating the "deflector in a direction transverse to the normal plane of the work during intervals while the needle is out of the work. 7

2. A sewing machine having, in combination, a needle, means for operating it, and

already feed mechanism, said feed mechanism hav ing a clamp for constantly engaging the 1 work and at all times positively holding it and preventing its retrograde movement, a

deflector engaging the work between the needle and clamp, means for reciprocating the deflector in a direction transverse to the normal plane of the work during intervals while the needle is out of the work, and continuously operating means located in rear of the deflector for taking up the slack in the work in rear of the needle.

3. A sewing machine having, in COmbZlv nation, a needle, means for operating it, a presser-foot, and feed mechanism independent of the presser-foot, said feed mechanism having a clamp in rear of the presserfoot adapted to constantly engage the work and at all times positively preventing its retrograde movement, a deflector engaging the work between the clamp'and presserfoot, and means for reciprocating the deflector in directions transversely to" and across'the normal'plane of the work for deflecting it from said plane and thereby drawing it forward, step by'step, during intervals while the needle is out of the work.

4. A sewing machine having, in combination, a needle, means for .operating it, a presser-foot,-a nd feed mechanism independent of the presser-foot, said feed mechanism having a. clampin rear of the presser-foot adapted to constantly engage the work and at all times positively preventing its retrograde movement, a deflector engaging the work between the clamp and presser-foot, means for reciprocating the deflector in directions transverse to the normal plane of the work for deflecting it from said plane and thereby drawing it forward, step by step, during intervals while the needle is out of'the work, and continuously operating means located in rear' of the presser foot for taking up the slack in the work.

5. A sewing machine having, in combi nation, a needle, means for operating it, and feed mechanism, said feed mechanism having a deflector .adapted to engage the work in rear of the needle, means for reciprocating said deflector in .directions transverse tothe normal plane of the work for deflecting it from said plane and intermittently drawing it forward, step by step, during intervals while the needle is out of the work, a pair of combined clamping and take-up rolls engaging the work in rear of the deflector, and means for continuously revolving at least one of said rolls and theretion, a needle, means for operating it, and

feed mechanism, said feed mechanism having, a head of the needle, meansforpfimnly but yieldingl tarding its rear of saidyielding clamp for positively and at all times clamping the work and preventing its retrograde movement, a deflector engaging the work between said two sets of clamping means, means for moving the deflector in directions transverse to the normal plane of the work as it passes from one to the other of said clamps and thereby deflecting it from said plane and suddenly drawing it forward past the yielding clamp at an interval when the needle'is out of the work, and continuously operating means in "rear of the deflector for taking up the slack in the work between the two clamps.

7. A sewing machine having, in combination, a needle, means for operating it, and feed mechanism, said feed mechanlsm having a pair of rol-ls located in rear of the needle, between which the work passes,

means for constantly forcing said rolls toward each other, for at all times clamping the work, means forpositively and continuously revolving at least one of said rolls in one direction and preventing its retrograde movement, thereby taking up the slack in thework in rear of the needle, a deflector adapted to engage the work between said rolls and the needle, and means for reciprocating said deflector in directions transverse to the normalfplane of the work for deflecting the work om said plane and intermit-e tently drawing it forward, past the needle, step by step, during *s'intervals when the needle is out of the work.

8. A sewing machine having, in combination, a needle, means for operating it, and feed mechanism, said feed mechanism having a pair of rolls located in rear of the needle, between which rolls the work passes, means for constantly forcing said rolls toward veach other for at all times clamping the work, means for positively and continuously' revolving at least one of said rolls in one direction and preventing their retrograde movement, a deflector located ahead of'said rolls and movable in directions trans verse to the normal plane of the work, and means ahead of said deflector for engaging the work and yieldingly holding ittaut.

9. A sewin machine having, in combination, a plura ity of needles, means for operating them, and feed mechanism, said feed mechanism having means for positively and vat all timesclamping the work in rear of the needles, a, reciprocating deflector adapted to engage the work between said clamping means and the needles, means for yieldingly clamping the work ahead of said deflector, and means for operating the deflector to draw the work forward at intervals 'while the needles are .out of the work, the foot of the deflector being extended laterally to cross aplurality of the rows of stitches.-

10. A sewing machine having, in combination, a needle, means for operating it, and feed mechanism, said feed mechanism having means for positively and at all' times clamping the work in rear of the needle and for preventing the retrograde movement thereof, means for continuously taking up the slack in the work between the needle and said clamping means, a reciprocating de flector adapted to engage the work between the needle and the clamping means last aforesaid, means for yieldingly clamping the workahead of the feed-bar, and means for operating the deflector to draw the work forward past the needle at intervals when the needle is out of the work.

11. A sewing machine having, in combination, a needle, means for operatin it, and feed mechanism,"said feed mechanism having'a pair of rolls located in rear of the needle, between which the work passes, means for forcing said rolls toward each other for clamping the work, means for posi-v tively revolving at least one of said rolls, a. reciprocating deflector adapted to engage the work between said rolls and needle, means for yieldingly clamping the work ahead of said' deflector, and means for reciprocating the deflector into engagement with the work and drawing it forward at'an interval while the needle is out of the work.

for operating the deflector to draw the work forward at an interval while the needle is out of the work, and means for yieldingly clamping the work ahead of the feed-tappet.

13. A sewing machine having, in combination, a needle, means for operatin it, and feed mechanism, said feed'mechanism having a pair of rolls .located in rear of the needle, between which the work-passes, means for positively revolving at least one of said rolls, a deflector adapted to engage the work )between said rolls and needle,.means for op-- erating the deflector to draw the work' forward at an interval while theneedle is out of the work, a pair of idle rolls located ahead of the needle between which the work passes and means for yieldingly forcing said rolls toward each otherfl "14. A sewing machine having, in combination, a needle, means for operating it, a presser-foot, means for 'yieldingly forcing it downward and feed mechanism, said feed mechanism having means adapted to engage 121A sewing machine having, in combina- -downward andfeedmechanism, said feed the work in rear of the presser-foot, means for operating said feeding means to feed the work forward during an interval while the needle is out of the work and means engaging the work in rear of said feeding means for taking up the slack in the work in rear of the presser-foot 15. A. sewing machine having, in combination, av needle, means for operating it, a resser-foot, means for yieldingly forcing it mechanism having feeding means adapted to engage the work in rearof the presserfoot, means for operating said feeding means to intermittently feed the work forward, step by step, during aninterval while the needle is out of the work, and means for taking up slack in the completed work after the feedingoperation is completed.

16. A sewing machine having, in combinait a resser-foot and feed mechanism, said feed mechanism having feeding means adapted to engage the work in rear of the resser-foot,

means for operating said feeding device to intermittently feed the work forward, step by step, during an interval while the needle the work, means for taking is out of slack in the completed work after the ing operation is completed, and means for continuouslv operating said take-up'means.

17. A sewmg mach1ne-hav1ng,1n combmat1on, a needle, means for operating it, a

presser-foot and feed mechanism, said feed mechanism having a pair of rolls located in rear of the presser-foot, between which the work passes, means for forcing said rolls toward each other for clamping the work, means for positively and continuously. revolving atleast one of said rolls, feeding means adapted to engage the work between said rolls and the resser-foot, and means for operating said f eding means for drawing the work forward at an interval while the needle is out of the work.

' VANDI VER J. VAN HORN.

Witnesses L. M. HorKiNs, A. ARENSON, 

